Method and device for mechanical cleaning of teeth

ABSTRACT

A method and device for mechanical cleaning of teeth involving the employment of a round-edged, non-cutting, flexible blade having a thickness approximating that of the inter-proximal spacing of adjoining, contacting teeth.

United States Patent [191 Schole Nov. 13, 1973 [54] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL 3,101,727 8/1963 Wiseman 132/93 CLEANING 0 TEETH 2,925,087 2/1960 Kucher 132/93 [76] Inventor: Murray L. Schole, North Tarrytown,

Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock [22] Filed: June 9, 1972 Attorney-Henry W. Foulds, Jr.

[21] Appl. No.: 261,308

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 132/93, 32/40 R Cl- A method and device mechanical cleaning of teeth [58] Field of Search 32/58, 50, 59, 40 R; involving the employment f a rouncbedged,

l32/93 cutting, flexible blade having a thickness approximating that of the inter-proximal spacing of adjoining, [56] References Cited contacting m UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1923 Thum 132/93 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL CLEANING OF TEETH This invention relates to cleaning of teeth and in particular provides a method and device for aiding in the mechanical removal of plaque, fibers and food particles, permitting more efficient debridement of the teeth and gums, and aiding in polishing and cleaning the inter-proximal space at the contact point and below between contacting, adjoining teeth.

It is well recognized that proper oral hygiene requires the frequent and regular cleaning of the teeth to remove food particles, fibers, plaque and the like. Dental research has also shown that the more efficient removal of plaque, with either chemical or mechanical means, the better the oral hygiene. This is very important in the prevention and treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a method and device which complementing normal dental care will aid in the mechanical cleaning of the teeth and plaque removal.

l-leretofore such mechanical cleaning of teeth has been performed utilizing dental floss or toothpicks formed of balsa wood, plastic or other wood materials, These devices are subject to disadvantages. Toothpicks are relatively weak devices and fracture and splinter upon occasion. A toothpick can also become impacted between tightly adjoining teeth. Dental floss can be accidentally cut by a sharp cusp. Moreover a great deal of force is necessary to force dental floss into the interproximal space between contacting, adjoining teeth. Such force can be sufficient when a tight contact is encountered that the rebound caused by the force used to pass the floss through the contact traumatizes the gingival tissue.

It is, therefore, also an important object of this invention to provide a method and device for cleaning the teeth which will permit access to the inter-proximal space betwen adjoining teeth even in tight contact and which will not be subject to the disadvantages of dental floss and toothpicks described above.

These and other objects of the invention which will become more apparent hereinafter are obtained utilizing an inter-proximal cleaning device in the form of a non-cutting blade having a thickness approximating that of the interproximal spacing of contacting, adjoining teeth. The blade is inserted between adjoining teeth and then is caused to slide back and forth in such space. The thickness of the blade is critical and should be 0.002 inches which is exactly the inter-proximal spacing of contacting, adjoining teeth. The blade, however, can be thinner to a degree and thus can be as thin as 0.0015 inch. The edges of the blade are rounded in order to avoid injury to the gingival tissue, and the blade is preferably made of flexible material, such as hard tempered stainless steel. The width of the blade is on the order of 0.2 inches to 0.3 inches and the working length can be from 0.3 inches to 0.8 inches. Typical materials are readily available in the dental profession as matrix band material. This material is commonly used as a form about the sidewall of a tooth in the interproximal space when filling cavities extending into such sidewall.

In a preferred form of this invention the blade is mounted on a handle having a bowed shape lengthwise the handle. The handle should be rigid and is of a width equal to that of the blade or slightly larger and has thickness so that it can be readily grasped between the thumb and index finger. In accordance with this invention it is important that the handle have distinct bowed shape in order to conform to the shape of the jaw, thus enabling the user to insert the blade in hard to reach places, such as in the molar region. When the handle is viewed edgewise it appears to be arcuate and extends through an arc of about 10 to 45".

For a more complete understanding of the practical application of this invention reference is made to appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an edge view of an inter-proximal cleaning tool in accordance with the present invention showing the manner in which it is grasped between the thumb and index finger;

FIG. 2 is a view of the same blade with the hand rotated showing insertion of the blade in the molar region;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken at line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tool shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another tool in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings the reference numeral 10 designates an inter-proximal cleaning tool. Cleaning tool 10 includes a handle 11, a blade 12 on one end 16 of the handle and a balsa wood pick 13 on the other end 22 of the handle. Handle 1 1 itself is formed of hard plastic and in the illustrated case is about one and one-fourth inches long, three-eighths of an inch wide and oneeighth of an inch thick. Handle 11 is curved lengthwise, such that it has a bowed form and its lateral surfaces 14 and 15 are portions of coaxial cylinders extending through arcs of approximately 30 each.

Blade 12 is held in end 16 of handle 11 by molding the plastic of handle 11 about an end of blade 12, such that lateral surfaces 14 and 15 at the end of 16 of handle 11 are approximately aligned with the lateral surfaces 17 and 18 of blade 12. Blade 12 is of hard tempered stainless steel 0.002 inch thick and the exposed portion is approximately three-fourths of an inch in length. Blade 12 is also approximately one-fourth inch in width and its end 19 remote from handle 11 is semicircular. As can best be seen in FIG. 3 the edges 20 and 21 of blade 12 are also rounded off. Balsa wood pick 13 is similarly mounted in the opposite end 22 of handle 11 and can be used as an adjunct in cleaning the teeth.

In operation, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, tool 10 is grasped between the thumb and index finger, which rest on lateral surfaces 14 and 15, respectively. End 19 of blade 12 is then inserted, for example, into the interproximal space between a pair of adjoining molars, and blade 12 is extended through such space. Blade 12 then is caused to slide back and forth and up and down to remove plaque and foreign material in the interproximal space. Such insertion is readily made even when the adjoining teeth are in tight contact.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment 10' which is essentially the same as tool 10, except that the balsa wood pick 13 is replaced by an intregal extension 22 of the end of handle 11' remote from blade 12 and is pyramidal in shape ending in a point.

I claim:

1. A device for mechanical cleaning of the teeth which comprises an elongated handle of rigid material having curved lateral surfaces, and a blade of flexible material having flat lateral surfaces affixed at an end said blade having a width across tha lateral surfaces thereof on the order of 0.2 inches to 0.3 inches and a thickness between the lateral surfaces thereof from 0.0015 inches to 0.002 inches, and said blade having thereof to an end of said handle with the lateral sur- 5 rounded edges. 

1. A device for mechanical cleaning of the teeth which comprises an elongated handle of rigid material having curved lateral surfaces, and a blade of flexible material having flat lateral surfaces affixed at an end thereof to an end of said handle with the lateral surfaces of said blade and handle approximately aligned, said blade having a width across tha lateral surfaces thereof on the order of 0.2 inches to 0.3 inches and a thickness between the lateral surfaces thereof from 0.0015 inches to 0.002 inches, and said blade having rounded edges. 